Program Manager, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) and Community Education

Job Description

Under general supervision of an assigned Dean or Associate Dean, the Program Manager is responsible for the strategic direction, administration, and operational oversight of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) and the Community Education programs. Serves as the designated representative of the OLLI program for older adults. Oversees the planning, development, implementation, promotion, and evaluation of the District’s community learning programs at multiple sites, including the Nevada County and Truckee campuses. Provides program management; establishes and monitors program goals, including revenue goals; and oversees program budgets. Exercises independent judgment in developing program priorities, allocating resources, evaluating program effectiveness, and recommending changes to

ensure program quality, sustainability, and alignment with District priorities.

Sierra College has a strong commitment to the achievement of equity and inclusion among its faculty, staff, and students and values the rich diverse backgrounds that make up the campus community. To effectively administer and manage the community learning programs, the manager must demonstrate a profound understanding of and experience with successfully supporting individuals with varying backgrounds. This includes persons with disabilities, various generational backgrounds, gender identities, sexual orientation, individuals from historically underrepresented communities and other groups to ensure the District provides an inclusive educational and employment environment focused on strategies for success and equitable outcomes for all.

Need Help With Your Online Account?

• Use the online Help Guide or contact the NEOED Applicants Support Line at 855-524-5627 if you need assistance with your online applicant account.
• Applicant Support is available between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Friday.

If you have any questions about this position, please contact the Human Resources Department at hr@sierracollege.edu .

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

Provides the leadership necessary to plan, develop, implement, promote, oversee, and evaluate the District’s community learning (not-for-credit/noncredit) programs: Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) and Community Education.Provides program management and strategic direction to ensure a diverse and balanced offering of enrichment, recreation, and educational courses and activities to meet community needs; establishes and monitors program budgets; seeks growth opportunities through new partnerships/collaborations and establishes mechanisms for evaluating member and student satisfaction for continuous quality improvement.As the designated OLLI representative, facilitates open communication with volunteer member advisory council to develop and implement program vision and goals; evaluates and determines appropriate curriculum offerings and leads plans for community outreach to maintain program membership levels required by the Osher Institute. Coordinates with OLLI volunteers to encourage and maintain member involvement and retention. Plans special member events and activities as appropriate.Determines class offerings and establishes schedules for providing not-for-credit and/or noncredit courses and activities; identifies resource needs; allocates resources; tracks program data and provides required reports to the District and the Osher Foundation, as required.Coordinates with the Osher Foundation and the Sierra College Foundation to manage annual disbursement of endowment funds for OLLI. Oversees and administers the OLLI District and Endowment program budgets.Determines and applies appropriate media and outreach efforts for defined target markets. Works with staff and other District units to publish program schedules and supplemental advertising and digital marketing; initiates press releases.Monitors and analyzes enrollment figures to determine cancellation due to low enrollment; adds and eliminates classes as necessary to keep enrollments healthy and responsive to interests of members and community students. Ensures financial sustainability for self-supporting programs.Participates in professional groups, attends conferences, and seminars to maintain awareness of new trends and developments in the field of community enrichment and lifelong learning; incorporates new ideas as appropriate; meets with community leaders and organizations to promote programs. Shares information regarding instructors, presenters, and classes. Supervises assigned classified staff and student workers. Participates in the selection of classified staff as well as instructors and presenters; provides or coordinates staff training; works with employees to correct deficiencies; implements discipline procedures.Participates in the development of goals and objectives as well as policies and procedures; makes recommendations for changes and improvements to existing standards, policies, and procedures; participates in the implementation of approved policies and procedures; monitors work activities to ensure compliance with established policies and procedures.Reviews and approves OLLI and Community Education instructor contracts; supports and mentors instructors and contract staff to encourage growth, professional success and ensure success of the programs.Coordinates OLLI and Community Education instructor evaluations; reviews evaluation forms and tabulates information; takes appropriate action to maintain quality of instruction and presentations.Serves as the primary contact point for OLLI and Community Education. Represents the District’s community learning programs with college departments, events, senior facilities, volunteers, partnerships and community organizations.Seeks out new venues for classes and makes appropriate arrangements as needed.Travels to sites as needed.Performs related duties as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

The following describes the education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Education and Experience Guidelines - Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education/Training: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in business administration, marketing, education, communications, social sciences, or a related field.

Experience: Two years of experience in training and development, nonprofit management, continuing education, or community program administration, including one year of administrative or lead supervisory responsibility.

Knowledge of:

• Operations, services, and activities of lifelong learning or enrichment programs for higher education.
• Principles and practices of curriculum planning and development for adults.
• Methods and techniques of marketing and advertising for community/nonprofit programs.
• Methods and techniques of public relations.
• Principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluation.
• Principles and practices of program administration, strategic planning, resource allocation, and program evaluation.
• Partnership development and collaborative program planning in educational, nonprofit, and community settings.
• Basic principles and practices of budget preparation and administration.
• Principles and procedures of recordkeeping.
• Principles of business letter writing and basic report preparation.
• Modern office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers.
• Computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and statistical databases.
• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
  
  

Ability to:

• Provide program management and strategic direction for community education and lifelong learning programs.
• Supervise, organize, and review the work of assigned staff involved in the development and administration of community programs, services, and classes.
• Select, train, and evaluate staff.
• Develop and recommend program goals, objectives, policies, and procedures; implement approved policies and procedures to ensure the quality and effectiveness of classes and programs.
• Understand the organization and operation of the District and of outside agencies as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities.
• Understand, interpret, and apply general and specific administrative and departmental policies and procedures as well as applicable federal, state, and local policies, laws, and regulations.
• Prepare clear and concise reports and professional correspondence.
• Participate in the preparation and administration of assigned budgets.
• Assess program staffing and instructional needs and establish processes for recruiting, selecting, and evaluating contracted instructors.
• Plan and organize work to meet changing priorities and deadlines.
• Effectively represent the District to outside individuals and agencies to accomplish the goals and objectives of the unit.
• Work cooperatively with other departments, District staff, and outside agencies.
• Respond tactfully, clearly and concisely, and appropriately to inquiries from the public, District staff, or other agencies on sensitive issues in area of responsibility.
• Demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of the cultural diversity of the community.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT - The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Environment: Work is performed primarily in a standard office setting.

Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally walk, stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; and to verbally communicate to exchange information.

Vision: See in the normal visual range with or without correction; vision sufficient to read computer screens and printed documents; and to operate assigned equipment.

Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

WHY SIERRA?

• One of Aspen Institute’s Top 150 Community Colleges in the nation
• The Accrediting Commission recognized Sierra “for its exemplary practice of providing personnel with opportunities for continued professional development in order to meet its mission.” This includes providing students and employees with a robust set of programs, events, and conferences related to equity-mindedness and supporting the success of our students, etc.
• Public Employee’s Retirement System (PERS)
• 18 paid holidays (including extended time off during the winter break)
• 22 accrued paid vacation days per year
• Competitive benefits package
• Currently during summers, some employee groups participate in 4x10 schedules
• Qualifying Employer for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (in most cases)

Sierra College is a Community College located near Sacramento, California where a heavy emphasis is placed on academic excellence and student success. Since its founding in 1936, Sierra College has focused on quality instruction and meeting the evolving needs of the students and communities that it serves. The Sierra Community College District covers more than 3,200 square miles and serves the Northern California foothill counties of Placer and Nevada, as well as parts of El Dorado and Sacramento. We serve over 30,000 students throughout the region in both on-ground and online courses, including students at our main Rocklin Campus as well as at two centers located in Grass Valley and Tahoe/Truckee. Our District prides itself on academic excellence.

Sierra College has a strong commitment to the achievement of equity and inclusion among its faculty, staff, and students and values the rich, diverse backgrounds that make up the campus community. A strong candidate for this position must demonstrate a profound understanding of and experience with successfully supporting individuals with varying backgrounds. This includes persons with disabilities, various gender identities and sexual orientations, as well as individuals from historically underrepresented communities and other groups. Our District is committed to providing strategies for success and proactive student-centered practices and policies focused on eliminating equity gaps to ensure the District provides an inclusive educational and employment environment focused on strategies for success and equitable outcomes for all.

As an institution, Sierra College is committed to eliminating the equity gap in all student populations with dynamic, learner-centered practices and policies that fully engage the college community. The ideal candidate will share the College’s commitment to helping its racially and socioeconomically diverse students succeed in their degree and career objectives. Currently, Sierra College enrolls 30,000 students per term, where approximately: 21.8% of Sierra College’s students are Latin(o)(a)(x)(e), 3.2% are African-American/Black, 2.4% are Filipino, 7.8% are Asian, 0.5% are American Indian/Alaskan Native, 7.8% are Multiethnic and 53.8% are White.

The successful candidate will join a College dedicated to the use of culturally responsive strategies and methods that meet the varying needs of our students, faculty, staff, and surrounding community. Sierra College demonstrates its commitment to equity by supporting ongoing professional development for students, faculty, and staff. These opportunities include trainings and workshops on equity and inclusion, active Academic Senate standing committees concerned with student success and equity, a Presidential Equity Advisory Committee (PEAC), culturally responsive student engagement centers, support for our undocumented and AB540 students, campus-wide equity summits, a robust set of programs, events, and conferences related to equity-mindedness and supporting the success of our diverse students.

Need Help With Your Online Account?

• Use the online Help Guide or contact the NEOED Applicants Support Line at 855-524-5627 if you need assistance with your online applicant account.
• Applicant Support is available between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Friday.

If you have any questions about this position, please contact the Human Resources Department at hr@sierracollege.edu .

Helpful Tip:

Please note that as described above a strong candidate for this position must demonstrate a profound understanding of and experience with successfully supporting individuals with varying backgrounds; and therefore, hiring committees assess candidates for these knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Applicants may want to consider incorporating culturally-inclusive/equity-minded strategies practiced and/or evidence of the responsiveness to and understanding of the racial, socioeconomic, and cultural diversity of community college student populations throughout their application materials (including application and documents uploaded, if any).

Please see the Sierra College website for additional helpful tips and tools for prospective applicants .

Travel expenses may be partially reimbursed for candidates traveling beyond a 150 mile radius for second round interviews. All other travel expenses will be borne by the candidate (if in person interviews).

Key Information Regarding Our Hiring Process

Hiring Subject to Board of Trustees Approval

Please note that all new hires require approval from our Board of Trustees during one of their public meetings. Official hire dates will follow this approval. More information about the Board of Trustees and their meetings can be found at https://www.sierracollege.edu/administration/board-of-trustees/ .

H1B1 Visa Sponsorship Not Available

At this time, we do not offer H1B1 visa sponsorship for new employees.

Terms and Conditions of Employment:

Other terms and conditions of employment are specified in the applicable collective bargaining agreements on file in the District Human Resources Department. Position description of record on file in the Human Resources Department.

*Sierra Community College District currently operates campuses in Rocklin, Truckee and Grass Valley. In its management of a multi-campus environment, the District reserves right of assignment including the right to change assignment locations and shift assignments based on District need. Although this position may currently reside at the Rocklin campus, the assignment location may be subject to change as needed. Additionally, the district reserves the right to cancel, revise or re-announce this position as well as any and all positions at any time.

EEO / TITLE IX EMPLOYER

Sierra College is an equal employment opportunity employer committed to nondiscrimination and the achievement of diversity and equity among its faculty, staff, and students.

Persons with inquiries about the application of Title IX and/or EEO may contact the Director of Diversity, EEO & Title IX (Title IX Coordinator) at the address below, at (916) 660-7006 or via email at EEOT9@sierracollege.edu .

Persons with questions regarding reasonable accommodation of physical and other disabilities should contact the Sierra College Human Resources Department at (916) 660-7105.

If you have limitations hearing or speaking, the State of California offers a specially-trained Communications Assistant (CA) that can relay telephone conversations for all of your calls. Dial 711 to reach the California Relay Service (CRS). Dialing 711 is for everyone, not just those who have difficulty hearing on a standard phone. If you prefer having your calls immediately answered in your mode of communication, dial one of the toll-free modality and language-specific numbers below. The call will be routed to the CRS provider.

TTY/VCO/HCO to Voice

English 1-800-735-2929

Spanish 1-800-855-3000

Voice to TTY/VCO/HCO

English 1-800-735-2922

Spanish 1-800-855-3000

From or to Speech-to- Speech

English & Spanish 1-800-854-7784

Closing Date/Time: Sun, 08 Nov 2026